Hi Felicia: Ice Cube Talks ‘Friday’ Return and Four Decades of Attitude

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Ice Cube is still basking in the aftermath of recent events. On April 15th, the groundbreaking West Coast rapper and actor made history with a hand and footprint ceremony outside the TCL Chinese Theatre. This significant moment was witnessed by friends, family, and fans who gathered to honor his illustrious career. In the same day, he unveiled the Truth to Power: 4 Decades of Attitude Tour, marking his first headlining tour in over a decade. This upcoming tour will give Ice Cube an opportunity to delve deeper into his catalog for his long-time supporters.

Individuals who’ve been accompanying Cube since the late ‘80s, when N.W.A launched their aggressive rap attack with “Straight Outta Compton” (1988), have had the privilege to observe Cube’s transformation from a raw, ambitious gangsta rapper into a genuine film actor. He has graced the screen in movies such as “Boyz n the Hood”, “Barbershop”, “Friday”, and “21 Jump Street”, among others. Notably, “Friday” marked Cube’s initial foray into screenwriting, leading to its emergence as a cult classic and one of the most enduring stoner comedies ever created.

Four days past a significant occasion and a day following 4/20, Cube had an interview with The Hollywood Reporter about his career in entertainment, the eagerly anticipated fourth film titled “Last Friday” (previously known as “Friday”), and how he plans to address the passing of cast members in the upcoming sequel.

After receiving the recognition, you mentioned that joining the movie industry was unexpected for you. What were some of those obstacles and how did you manage to surmount them?

I’ve been fortunate enough to be discovered by John Singleton and given a fantastic role in one of his movies. However, whenever someone transitions from music to film, there is usually skepticism, although I can’t quite understand why. Back in early Hollywood, they expected you to sing, dance, act, and tap dance, among other things [laughs]. The industry still tends to question your credibility when coming from the music world. The barriers I encountered were essentially people’s preconceived notions and limitations they placed on me. To dispel those doubts, I had to demonstrate that I respected the film industry, appreciating its immense potential as an artist. I needed to prove that I was more than just an actor who happened to be in a movie directed by a talented director; I am also a writer, producer, and other things.

Now, let’s discuss the upcoming Next Friday film, Last Friday. Unfortunately, we have lost several members of the original cast, including Pops, Deebo, and Ezal – characters played by John Witherspoon, Tiny Lister, and AJ Johnson respectively. We must acknowledge this loss. These were not merely movie characters but beloved individuals like John Witherspoon (Pops), Tiny Lister (Deebo) and AJ Johnson (Ezal). However, we are still making a movie and striving to create laughter. It will remain entertaining and enjoyable, just the kind of people you’d want to hang out with and catch up on life. There is also room for introducing new characters. I always thought of this franchise as similar to Star Wars, where characters can appear and disappear at any time.

In essence, Last Friday is about revisiting a family that has moved forward in 2025. It’s essentially catching up with the characters and seeing how they are dealing with life now.

Will it resonate with you, being an adult with your own family?
Well, I can’t reveal too much about that [laughs]. It’s a bit like when you’re cooking in the kitchen and you don’t want anyone peeking inside if they aren’t helping out. So, just give it some time to cook and see how it turns out [laughs]. Take a sniff, but for now, don’t take a bite yet.

I believe one of the charms of movies like this is when you don’t foresee the twists, you can simply enjoy the film without knowing too much. The audience, they already know it’s going to be exciting, so they’re thinking, “Alright Cube, don’t mess this up.

For me, it’s a thrill to be given another chance to contribute to this movie. Each opportunity brings a new set of challenges and possibilities, and that’s what makes it exciting. I’m looking forward to diving back into the world of this film, refining and enhancing elements, and seeing how it resonates with audiences now. It’s like stepping back into an old friend’s life, but with fresh eyes and new ideas. Can’t wait!

Experiencing laughter in a theater, realizing its impact on people’s joy, and observing memorable phrases like “Bye Felicia” being adopted into everyday conversations – that’s what makes a movie exceptional for me. It isn’t about the box office earnings. Rather, it’s about how often people can rewatch it and still find enjoyment. That’s the true indicator of its value.

Were you anticipating that this film would gain such cult status during its initial production?

It seemed as if what we were doing was somewhat overlooked by Hollywood. There’s a film titled “CB4“. It delved deeply into the world of rap music and hardcore hip-hop. We had films like “Boyz n the Hood” and “Menace II Society“, which were intense portrayals of our neighborhood, but we never had a movie that provided humor in the face of challenging situations rather than sadness.

The original dialogue could be rephrased as: “It felt like saying, ‘Let’s enjoy the ride! Let’s flip things around and find humor in this situation.’ If we were to portray Friday as a drama, it would get quite intense. However, by turning it into a comedy, it was crucial to demonstrate that our lives weren’t as dire as some movies might suggest. We aimed to show that we found joy even amidst the craziness.”

As for Chris Tucker’s character Smokey, the answer provided is: “He’s always welcome back. That’s all I can share for now.

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2025-04-22 01:54